FluidSurveys (Discontinued) vs. Zoomin

For surveys, and for centralized info-gathering, FluidSurveys provides an excellent solution. There are other programs out there which provide a wider range of solutions (i.e., they can be used for surveying AND comprehensive online engagement, rather than just a data-gathering type of consultation); however, for programming and implementing surveys, FluidSurveys has an effective variety of strengths and options that make it optimal for users who are focused specifically on surveys.

Zoomin is best suited for an organization that uses DITA or other forms of structured authoring in at least one department. The structure provided by DITA will lay the foundation for all other types of content that are imported into Zoomin.

• User-friendly. For the majority of the general and basic tools you can use with FluidSurveys to build surveys are simple to use and intuitive. When certain issues come up, the service is quick (chat room) and effective.
• Anonymity: the software has the reputation of being safer in terms of safeguarding private information the respondents share by answering surveys (this is mainly due to the fact that the servers are in Canada). Thus, indirectly, they increase response rates.
• Extensive possibilities: FluidSurveys offers a plethora of possibilities and options that really renders the experience interesting in terms of micro-managing each details of the surveys you are sending out there. When the invitation leaves by email, it is exactly how you want it.

• The biggest advantage to using Zoomin is the care and loyalty of their people. No matter what occurred throughout the process, they were with us 100%.
• The Zoomin product is one of the few DITA compatible products I've seen that presents a current and professional interface.
• Zoomin's roadmap is impressive and I've actually seen first-hand that they really do make good on items on their roadmap!

• There should be more flexibility and customizability with regard to survey design (e.g. background, fonts...)

• Zoomin's SalesForce integration is a must finish. It's almost there, but they haven't been able to get Salesforce to certify it.

Note: I am responding to this question as a user of the system and not a representative of my organization.

On a personal level/as a user only, I would definitely continue to use FluidSurveys.On a personal level/as a user only, I would definitely continue to use FluidSurveys.

I think the average person can very quickly pick up on the basics of the system: they would have no problems programming and launching a basic survey. Organizations may benefit from having people of different backgrounds getting their hands dirty in the system: at a minimum, both web programmers and opinion research advisors should be solicited for input or help.

Although I do not have much experience with Survey Monkey, the only two reasons why I choose FluidSurveys is that clients demand it (privacy and anonymity) and because managing multiple surveys at a time is easier. As for ODK Collect, I think it is a valuable alternative to FluidSurveys if you have time to learn the coding (not very complicated). ODK is a little less user friendly and you cannot address small details as you can with FluidSurveys (e.g.: formatting).

• Confidentiality of data is a big concern for our company, and we feel more secure working with a Canadian company. Our clients feel more secure, too.

• Our new Zoomin based interface increased traffic to our doc site by 600%.
• The new Zoomin based site decreased traffic to the support portal by 10-20% for all segments of the business.
• Customer comments provided positive results as customers started to see we were making much needed improvement.